Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-29

out Engineer Knight whether from
natural impusivencss, or at signal from
Andrews. rose also and went out with him.
These two got off on the side next to the
camp, and opposite the depot They
walked forward ut an ordinary pace until
abreast of the locomotive, which they saw
at glance to be vacant-eugineer and fire
man had gone To breakfast That was very
good Andrews walked few steps further
forward with Knight still at his side, I'M
til he Coul see ahead If the engine that
the track WAS clear rs far as a curve a
little way up the road which closed the
view. Then they turned and walked back
until Just in advance Of the first baggage
car and behind the three empty freight
cars, when Andrews said with a nod
"Uncouple here and wait for me" Knight
drew out the pin and carefully laid it on
the draw bar. Andrews came back to the
door of our car and opening it said
in his ordinary tone, not a shade louder or
more hurried than usual, Come on, boys;
it is time to 90 now" Our hearts gave a
great bound at the word, but we rose
quietly and followed him. Nothing in
this was likely to attract the attention of
the few passengers who still remained in
the car; but it mattcrtd little. for the time
of conCealment was now past Andrews
glided forward very swiftly, and Knight,
seeing him coming, hurried on hefore and
jumped on the engine. where he at once
cut the bell rope and seiziug the throttle
bar stood leaning forward with tense
muscles and eye fixed on the face of his
leader.
Andrews did not follow. but stood a
step back from the locomotive with one
hand on the rail. looking at his men as
they ran forward Brown and Wilson
THE other engineer and fireman. darted
forward at the top of their speed and took
their post beside Knight on the engine
AS soon as the rest Of us reached the hind
most box car we saw that its door was
wide open. Whether this was mere
happy accident, or whether, as is more
likely, Andrews had gone forward before
we reached the station and opened it, with
his usual audacity, do not know. But
he motioned with his hand to us saying,
Get ini Get in" We needed no urging.
The floor was breast high, but the hind
most showed and lifted the foremost and
were themselves pulled up in turn. /
helped to throw Shadrack up and had my
arm almost pulled off as | was dragged in
by him second after. III this time a
sentry was star ling not dozen feet from
the engine qnietly watching Is if this was
the most ordinary proceeding, and num-
Der of other soldiers were itlling but a
short distance away. All this work was
OF seconds only, and as the last man was
being pulled in. Andrews stepped on
board, and nodded to Knight, who had
never taken his eyes from his face Quick
as flash the valve was thrown open and
the steam giant unchaine1,-but for an
instant which seemed terribly long the To-
connective seemed to stand still; Knight
had thrown the full power on too sud
denly, and the wheels slipped on the
track, whirlinC with swift revolutions and
the hiss of escaping steam. before the in
ertia of the ponderous machine could be
overcome But this was an instant only:
none OF the soldiers had time TO raise their
nluskets, give an alarm, or indeed to re-
cover from their stupor before the wheels
DIT, and the train shot away as if fired
from a cannon,
We were now flying on our perilous
Journey. The door of the box car was
pulled shut to guard against any sho, that